Jenn Seedorf: Our favorite stuffed animal toys

Jenn Seedorf

Age: 29

Family: Husband, Stephen; Daughter, Ella, 9 months

Occupation: Loan analyst at American AgCredit

About: I am an only child and grew up in Denver. I have lived in Greeley for 10-plus years. I came to UNC for college where I met my husband and received my BS in Finance. I have an MBA in Finance/Accounting from Regis University and work at American AgCredit here in Greeley. I love sports (Go Broncos!) and have a love/hate relationship with exercise, but I am an avid runner. I love music and read everything I can get my hands on. Travel and cooking are my passions.

Related Media

About twelve and a half years ago, a very dear friend of mine passed away. He was a Colorado State Trooper and was often called "a teddy bear of a man." As a memorial to him, a fundraiser was held with teddy bears as the donation for a program the State Patrol had at the time in which they gave bears to children who had been involved in car accidents.

I remember thinking how much I loved this program because 1) I am a teddy bear fan myself and 2) next to mama and daddy, there is nothing more comforting to a child than the face of a bear or other stuffed animal or doll, even if they aren't in a traumatic situation.

When I was growing up, I had Mr. Bear. To this day, still my most favorite and prized possession (even more than my KitchenAid mixer). If Mr. Bear could talk, oh the stories he would tell; he's been dropped in the lake at Washington Park in Denver, left in a hotel in Colorado Springs, left in a Burger King booth, left in a shopping cart at Safeway. But he was the one I would hold tight during thunderstorms and he was my listening ear through childhood and beyond. He now resides in Ella’s room so she can love him as much as I do.

One of my other favorite toys was my American Girl doll, Molly. I remember believing her to be a mini-me with her brown hair and glasses. I brushed and braided her hair so much that I pretty much ruined the softness of it. I had a bed for her with a homemade afghan made by my aunt (I had one to match) and clothes made by my mom and grandma. She had books that came with her, but I always loved to come up with my own stories for her.

Toys and stuffed animals represent so much to our children. And we, as parents, get to take part in creating their life stories and all the memories that will be attached for years to come.

Ella is starting to have several favorites - Marvin (a monkey), Morvin (a second Marvin, therefore, more Marvin = Morvin), Bearvin (made of the same material as Marvin, but in bear form), Lambie, Ella Elephant, and Cathy the Caterpillar.

Sure, Stephen and I have created their names for them out of our own imagination. But that is becoming one of my favorite parts of parenting – living out my own imagination and creativity to help build that of my daughter.

We have many years ahead of us reliving our own excitement baking cookies and waiting for Santa, finding eggs from the Easter Bunny and remembering to put teeth under pillows for the Tooth Fairy.

If nothing else, creating names and stories helps Stephen and I to break away from the stressfulness of being the responsible adults. In a way, it helps us to maintain our sanity by having a little imaginary fun.

Ella will grow out of the time of make believe one day, but my hope is that she will create long-lasting memories, as I did with Mr. Bear and with Molly, and always remember the comfort she had in her fluffy companions.

But for now, I will continue to foster her imagination and cherish the moments of her babbling her own stories and then holding tight to her Lambie or Marvin, with her thumb in her mouth, while she drifts off to sleep.

Jenn Seedorf is married with a daughter. Read her blog Mondays on Greeley Moms.